The caption references one of Australia’s most infamous criminal cases in which Lindy Chamberlain was wrongfully imprisoned over the death of her two-month-old daughter Azaria. She was later released and compensated when a coroner ruled a dingo had killed Azaria.

The case was immortalised in film with Meryl Streep’s portrayal of her screaming “the dingo took my baby”, making its way into popular culture, and parodied by television shows including The Simpsons, Seinfeld and Buffy.

Macquarie University modern history associate professor Michelle Arrow said that most Americans didn’t realise the tragic truth behind the catchphrase.

“I think the knowledge of it purely comes from pop culture and it became a bit of a punch line because of Meryl Streep’s performance,” Prof Arrow said.

“I’m sure if Paris Jackson knew the true facts of the case, that a nine-week-old baby girl was taken out of her tent by a dingo, and that’s one of the most horrible things you can imagine happening, she probably wouldn’t make that joke, but I certainly don’t think it was said with malicious intent.”

Ms Jackson made headlines earlier this week for her bizarre behaviour in the Birdcage at The Melbourne Cup where she pressed her face against the venue’s windows and poked her tongue out at photographers.

The teen later took to Twitter to criticise media coverage of her antics.